NYC Scene Report – Monobloc, Diary, & Tall Juan

This week’s NYC Scene Report features Monobloc wondering “Where Is My Garden,” Diary igniting a “Brush Pile,” and Tall Juan diving into a “Dark Hole.”

* NYC indie rockers Monobloc recently released their second single, and it asks the question, “Where Is My Garden.”

Discussing the boisterous, botanically titled song in a statement, frontman Timothy Waldron said, “Attached to the main riff of the song was this chorus I really wanted to use, but could never find a place where it made sense – ‘Where is my garden, where are my friends? Will it always feel like the end?’ It was a great wide theme – a bit Springsteen, and better yet, the closest I could legally get to saying ‘Where are your friends tonight?’”

If Monobloc are having a show, there’s a good chance that’s where you’ll find your friends. Click play on “Where Is My Garden,” and hear why.

* Hard to Google band Diary have a new EP titled Speedboat, which came out earlier this month via Kanine Records, and one of the singles off the project that’s sure to light a fire under listeners is “Brush Pile.”

“Brush Pile” has a strong shoegaze feel, but you can hear some of the band’s post-punk, new wave, and psychedelia influences on it, as well. Their goal was to create something that goes back and forth from a feeling of exhaustion, to a Jessie Spano-like caffeine pill rush.

Needless to say, it’s something to get so excited, so excited … but not necessarily so scared about.

Click play, and check it out.

* Moving to something that some might consider a bit scary, closing things out this week is the wonderfully bizarre video for Tall Juan’s latest single, “Dark Hole.”

Tall Juan, which is the performance moniker of NYC via Argentina artist Juan Zaballa, explained the inspiration for the song in a statement, saying, “This song explores the juxtaposition of despair, and the acceptance of darkness, (and is) dedicated to anyone who has faced profound sadness. It paints a vivid picture of my mind during those times, feeling lost and disconnected while battling a suffocating sense of loneliness. I wonder if this song will resonate with listeners who have experienced similar feelings, and I hope it gives a voice to those navigating their own dark holes.”

When it comes to the video, which was directed by Matthew Volz, Tall Juan said, “We aimed to convey that we can always embrace darkness, and find rebirth within it.”

“Dark Hole” is off Tall Juan’s upcoming album, Raccoon Nights (hey, that explains the raccoon in the video!), which is due out September 6th. Click play, and enjoy the surreal ride.

For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.